Not sure if anyone can help here. I have a storeroom in my house and it has a small attic above it. I tend to keep the entry to the attic open to keep the air circulating. Recently I’ve taken stuff from the attic and put it in the storerorom in order to have a good clearout.
I went into the storeroom last night and switched on the light. Suddenly there was this "thing" flying around. It looked like a huge moth but as it was flying so fast (and so crazily – like a dying fly/wasp/bee does before it actually dies) hitting everything including furniture and myself that I didn’t see it properly. It was making a buzzing noise as well. The only moths I generally see are small and don’t make a noise and don’t fly so fast. I have no idea what it was but I just tried to get out of the room asap before it "escaped". I’m not scared of things but this freaked me out a bit.
Strangely enough some years ago – I bought something from a UK online order company (like Past Times). The item was boxed and made in China. When I opened the box in the lounge a "thing" flew out and did exactly the same – flew crazily and randomly around, hitting things (as the thing last night did), was like a huge moth and ended up in the wall lights. Eventually it flew off and I never saw it afterwards – no "body" or anything. I can’t remember whether this thing I saw several years ago made a buzzing sound – I think it did.
Anyway – not sure if it is the thing that flew around last night is the same as the thing that flew around before. Would they last 3 or more years ? Not even sure if it is native to the UK. Any ideas ?
Sorry I can’t be more specific – it was flying so fast I simply could only get glimpses of it. Also apologies for calling it a "thing" - I have no idea what it actually could be.:confused:
Thanks
Could it of been a bat ? they fly and wizz about quickly and can be quite small. Don't know about how long they can live but going by what you're described that's what it sounds like to me.
Hiya,
I did think it might have been a bat (although i don't know a huge amount about bats) but it wasn't flying "purposefully" it was just zig zagging all over the place like crazy - hitting me, hitting furniture etc. It even flew into my hair (which freaked me out) and flew into the side of my body. I guess it started to go crazy when the light was switched on. The only thing it reminded me of is of when a fly is dying - they go crazy (obviously before lying down to die) and start bumping into things and flying wildly. This did the same. I did think that perhaps a bat wouldn't do this. Also it was buzzing and I'm not sure what type of noise a bat makes :confused: (if it makes one at all). Also i'm not sure how big/small bats are and I couldn't get a good look at this thing.
Trouble is - i need to go into the room to get stuff and i'm a bit freaked out now - especially as it flew into my hair.
It sounds unlikely to have been a bat - bats don't buzz as far as I know, and I doubt a bat would have survived in a box (if you think that your second encounter was with a similar creature).
I wonder if it might have been a giant wood wasp - they grow quite large, (British species to 4cm long, foreign ones larger than that), they do buzz, and can seemingly appear "out of nowhere" as their larvae develop in wood (that could be the explanation for it coming out of a box from China!)
Here is a picture of the UK species
By the way, these don't sting despite of the long thingy sticking out of their bum - that's female's ovipositor! So pretty harmless!
Masha
Thanks for this Masha. Have never heard of them - but it's a distinct possibility. I guess when they're flying they'd seem even larger with their wings out.
Obviously i'm not 100% sure that what i saw last night was the same that I saw popping out of the box several years ago - but they're very similar. One could be the offspring of the other. I'm assuming if it's the same insect and has been living in my house (or in the small attic) for years then I'm kinda wondering what it's been feeding on ?
I'm assuming if it's the same insect and has been living in my house (or in the small attic) for years then I'm kinda wondering what it's been feeding on ?
The larvae live for a few years I think, and they feed on dead wood - it could have lived inside any wooden furniture, wooden parts of the house or any other wooden objects. If it was a wood wasp you came across, it may have just metamorphosized into an adult - these don't live very long I think and am not even sure if they feed (if they do it could possbly be on pollen/nectar but maybe other things too, I can't find the info on it just at the moment) - their function is to procreate!
Masha
Thanks Masha. I was a bit worried - as I have some lovely wooden furniture (some inherited down the family) and I'd be really upset if any of this is affected :(. Alos I'd hate it if beams or anything in the roof is affected.
Thanks Masha. I was a bit worried - as I have some lovely wooden furniture (some inherited down the family) and I'd be really upset if any of this is affected :(. Alos I'd hate it if beams or anything in the roof is affected.
I guess if it was just one larva, it wouldn't have caused much damage.. And in any case, it might have been something completely different! Though with large winged bugs suddenly appearing "out of nowhere" indoors (apart form daddy-long-legs that seem to get in regardless of how well the windows and doors are shut), wood-boring insects are a possible suspect.
Masha